Thought for Friday, July 20th

July 20, 2012

Actively Waiting

Waiting can seem like such a waste of time.  There are some who don’t mind waiting patiently; but by-in-large most of us have a predisposition towards avoiding anything associated with having to wait whenever and wherever possible.

We see impatient drivers who hate to wait at lights; we see people who get disgruntled at having to wait in lines; we see annoyance in people who have to wait long periods of time at doctor’s offices, hospitals or pharmacies while waiting to see a doctor or get a prescription.  Children are notorious for their tendencies towards disliking having to wait for whatever it is they want to have or want to do. Of course many of us grown-ups aren’t much better.

However, to have a well rounded and complete spiritual life, we need to learn to be willing to wait and even wait patiently at times, for answered prayers or for God to accomplish certain things in our lives or the lives of others around us.

Given our predisposition towards an aversion to waiting - this is often a challenging effort for us to succeed at effectively.  However, we do not have to be nonproductive or unengaged while we are waiting on the God.

“Waiting on God does not mean you can’t be moving closer to Jesus.”

-       V. Riobo

He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:  But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Isaiah  40:29-31

And he shall stand and feed in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God; and they shall abide: for now shall he be great unto the ends of the earth

Micah 5:4

Often during our seasons of waiting for God to work, speak or move in our lives we can be drawing closer through prayer, praise, or reading the Word.  And if effectively engaged in one of these three activities during our season of waiting we will find the answer, word or action we are waiting for comes often times more quickly than we thought it would.

Today’s Prayer

Father, there is nothing or no one greater than you: none higher or more exalted: and no one more worthy and deserving of my patience and honor: yet often I tend to loose my focus when I need to be actively engaged in waiting on you.  Help me to be purposeful and productive in my waiting and may my efforts result in my drawing closer to you during the process.

“When the music fades
All is stripped away
And I simply come
Longing just to bring
Something that's of worth
That will bless Your heart
I'll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You're looking into my heart
I'm coming back to the heart of worship
And it's all about You,
It's all about You, Jesus
I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it
When it's all about You,
It's all about You, Jesus “

-  Lyrics from ‘Heart of Worship’ by Matt Redman